Well, here we are again, today:
Draft page count: 1200
Lord. This book.
I have completed rough draft for chapter 17 main. This action is 10 dimensional chess/crossing layers and levels, I had (hahahahah!) projected I could cover this in one subchapter, but El Nope…now I have it up the EXPLOSION finale of this segment - which will be - drumroll - 17a…
Scenes that just can’t be ‘rushed’ - so sorry.
The great news: I have files opened for the 18th chapter set - and cheer - YAY BOOM! - the last scenes are all LINEAR…no multiple levels/huge intersects of long arcs - just ‘finish’ line…nothing to work out, just - enjoy the ride as it coasts to the endpoint that - ah yes, be sure of it - will still surprise you.
I felt, sincerely, there’s been enough invested in this series not to deliver a RUSHED ending, and importantly - to be sure all the characters finished their Arcs with agency…all on track, just took more on page space than I’d realized. Funny, some books wrap very quickly, some just keep ‘moving the goal posts’ - this one was one of them.
I had to field everything IN PLAY with no inconsistencies/nothing left out/all built on prior material. Where Curse of the Mistwraith required HUGE effort to decide what to show and what to leave OUT, this finale was what all had to be PUT IN, in order, in suspense, and still surprise.
Oddly - as I approach these final scenes, it seems a bookend: Curse of the Mistwraith was a one Arc volume with 18 Chapter Sets.
Song of the Mysteries likewise, a one arc volume with 18 chapter sets.
I am striking to be done with the draft by New Years…do you see the smoke coming out of my ears???